Safety device



March 27, 1934. w. SPENGLER SAFETY DEVICE Filed July 19. 1932 INVENTOR 1 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1934 1 Claim.

This invention relates to safety devices for the protection of personal property and more particularly to small articles, such as are commonly carried in the pocket of a garment, such for in- 5 stance as purses, pocket books, pouches, flasks, etc.

Such small articles are readily abstracted without the knowledge of the individual carrying the same, particularly if the persons attention be diverted by jostling, conversation and like means 4 employed by pickpockets.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means, such as a band or clasp to surround the article to be protected, the band having a plurality of outstanding knob-like projections which effectually prevent withdrawal of the article without warning, due to contact of the protuberances with the lining of the pocket by which the sensation of touch is transmitted through the clothing to the body of the wearer. 0 A further feature is in the provision of a flexible, elastic band suited to tightly engage around the article and provided with spaced knobs which, by reason of engagement with the material of the pocket in which it is carried, give ample warning that the article is being removed, either accidentally or forcibly.

Another purpose is to produce a safety device of this type which is inexpensive to manufacture and of ornamental appearance.

These several advantageous objects are attained by the novel design, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a conventional type of lower garment showing a pair of back pockets in one of which is disposed an article provided with an embodiment of the invention.

7 I Figure 2 is a perspective view of-the safety band in detail.

As seen in Fig. 1 one of the pockets, designated by the numeral 5, is shown to contain an article 6, such as a bill fold, entered through the open .top of the pocket, which may, if desired, be provided with securing means 7, such as a snap fastener, button or the like, at the hem on its upper 4 edge. I

Before slipping the article 6 into the pocket a flexible band 8 of elastic material such as rubber, is passed over the article, the band being of such ize as to hug the object tightly, due to its inhernt tensibility.

Obviously such band, by reason of itspliability, readily self-conforming to suit the shape of STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE William Spengler, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 19, 1932, Serial No. 623,318

the article, even if it be somewhat irregular or having bulges on its surface.

On the outer surface of the band, at spaced intervals, are a plurality of permanently applied projections 9 to extend radially outward, these 0 projections being of any preferred shape compatible with their purpose, presenting a series of sharp edges which act in the manner of prongs arranged pyramidally to engage the fabric of the pocket and frictionally resist withdrawal of the article, sufficiently at least to notify the wearer of the garment that the article is being removed, surreptitiously or otherwise.

The mounds or projections may be fancifully formed to produce an ornamental effect on the band, and may be rigid or partially pliable as preferred.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple device for this purpose has been disclosed in the preferred form of its embodiment, but it is '6 not desired to restrict the details to the exact construction shown, it being obvious that changes,

not involving the exercise of invention, may be made without conflicting with the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

A safety device for pocket carried articles comprising a band of flexible elastic material adapted to tightly engage around the article, and a plurality of elongated spaced projections flxed transversely on the exterior of said band adapted to clutchingly engage the material of the pocket to act as a deterent for removal of the article, said projections being composed of flat layers of progressively increasing area arranged in step formation to present a series of sharp edges adapted to engage the pocket material.

WILLIAM SPENGLER. 96 

